May 20, 2010 - KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Kansas City, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to illegally trafficking firearms, including several firearms that have been recovered in separate criminal investigations.
Montell F. Ross, 27, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Ortrie D. Smith this morning to the charge contained in a Dec. 2, 2009, federal indictment.
By pleading guilty today, Ross admitted that he illegally purchased firearms in Oklahoma and brought them to Missouri to sell. An agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives determined in April 2009 that six firearms purchased by Ross had been recovered a short time later by law enforcement officials during criminal investigations.
Ross admitted that he falsified transaction records in order to purchase four additional firearms in Tulsa, Okla. Although Ross was living and working in Kansas City, he claimed to be a resident of Oklahoma at the time he purchased a Ruger 9mm pistol, a Glock .40-caliber pistol, a Taurus 9mm pistol and a Taurus .45-caliber pistol.
Ross also admitted that at least two of the illegally purchased firearms were sold to a juvenile who has been shot several times.
Under federal statutes, Ross is subject to a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina Y. Tabor. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Dellwood, Mo., Police Department.
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